The choice between one and three arbitrators is an important decision parties do not always pay attention to when drafting arbitration clauses, or even once a dispute has arisen. The choice of who will sit on the panel, including whether it will be a sole arbitrator or a three-member tribunal, is one of the most […]
Cost-Efficient Arbitration
Who Pays the Costs of International Arbitration?
One question frequently and legitimately asked by parties is who pays the costs of international arbitration. Most procedural arbitration laws and rules provide wide discretion to arbitral tribunals to allocate costs. There are, generally, two overriding internationally accepted principles for allocating costs, i.e., the English “costs should follow the event” rule, which requires the losing […]
Costs of ICSID Annulment Proceedings
Pursuant to Article 53 of the ICSID Convention, ICSID awards are binding on the parties and “shall not be subject to any appeal or any other remedy except those provided for in this Convention”. As correctly stated by the ad hoc committee in the Standard Chartered Bank v. Tanzania Electric Supply Company case, this “Article […]
UNCITRAL Expedited Arbitration Rules
On 9 July 2021, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, commonly known as UNCITRAL, adopted the UNCITRAL Expedited Arbitration Rules, which came into force on 19 September 2021 (the “(UNCITRAL) Expedited Rules”). UNCITRAL has also published a Draft Explanatory Note to the Expedited Rules (the “Explanatory Note”), containing useful comments on the application […]
M&A Arbitration
In recent years, arbitration has become the preferred method of resolving M&A disputes. While the global market shows steady signs of recovery, arbitration is considered an effective means to resolve disputes involving M&A transactions in a wide range of sectors, such as the financial, healthcare, education, energy and technology sectors.[1] Disputes in M&A Transactions M&A […]
The Timing of Payment of Arbitration Advances on Costs
The payment of advances on costs in arbitration aims to ensure that an arbitral institution has sufficient funds to cover the payment of arbitrators’ fees and expenses, as well as costs incurred in the administration of arbitral proceedings. The advances on costs paid to arbitral institutions do not include party costs, such as legal fees […]
The Recoverability of Arbitration Costs
Costs tend to be a major concern for users of international arbitration. However, a successful party may recover them in full or in part, including the costs of legal representation. In this respect, both national arbitration legislation and institutional rules generally grant arbitrators the power to award the costs. Though the UNCITRAL Model Law is […]
Advance on Costs in ICSID Arbitration
The filing of a Request for Arbitration in an ICSID arbitration implies an obligation for the parties to pay several costs needed for the arbitral proceedings. In addition to the legal fees for the parties’ legal representation, and additional party costs such as the cost of experts, and the payment of a non-refundable lodging fee […]
Should an International Arbitration for a Small Claim Even Be Commenced?
Should an international arbitration for a small claim, for instance an amount in dispute of less than USD 50,000, even be commenced? This is a recurring question asked by clients with small claims who wonder if it is worthwhile to commence arbitration proceedings and to incur additional costs in order to recover small amounts. Claimants […]
